Season Eleven Episode Guide

The storylines:

Bobby has a major health and safety issue to deal with at work, and a holiday in Rome with Sheila. Damon dumps Gail and woos Debbie, and Karen leaves the Close. Harry eventually proves that Ralph’s friend Madge is just a gold-digger, and Paul looks after a puppy, until Gordon accidentally kills her. More short-term lodgers join and leave Pat and Terry, while the Corkhills continue to battle with their financial problems. And an engaged professional couple buy Heather’s house, looking forward to a happy life together on the Close……..but are they right to be optimistic?

The dates:

It is Monday 22nd December in episode 433, and 30th December 1986 in episode 436. In episode 438 it is “just after Christmas”, in episode 440 and it is eight months since Harry and Ralph were in Torquay, and in episode 441 mid-August is “a long way away”. It is Valentine’s Day and February in episode 447, and Monday afternoon in episode 451. It is 1987 in episode 452, and Saturday in episode 454, when the sale starts at 2 pm. The Mersey Marathon is nine months away in episode 455. It is Saturday in episode 457, and Sunday in episodes 458 and 461, which is also Mother’s Day. Mr Howman’s calendar shows “23 MARCH” in episode 459, and when telephoning the travel agent in episode 464, Bobby says the flight to Rome is on 13th April.

Name-checks:

Sherlock Holmes (433); Billy Smart (434); Venezia Perrugio (434); Tears For Fears (436); Simple Minds (436); “Give Us A Clue” (437); Cyril Smith (440); “Dixon Of Dock Green” (441); “Wonder Woman” (444); Barbara Cartland (446); Red Robbo of British Leyland (447); Samantha Fox (448 ); Bette Davis (449); Philip Marlow (451); Derek Hatton (452); Jim Peters, runner (454); Jim Fixx (455); Paul McCartney (455); Bob Geldof (455); “Mastermind” (459); and the Eurovision Song Contest (459).

Locations:

While most of the action in this season is set in or near Liverpool, some is set in Tunbridge Wells and Rome. There are brief scenes set in Tunbridge of Billy telephoning Doreen in the rain, very close to a road sign referring to Maidstone, Tunbridge, Penshurst and Sevenoaks in lettering similar to that which would appear on a real one, in episode 454; and in his caravan, seen in a field, in episode 456 – although these were not necessarily filmed there. There are, however, many scenes involving Billy, Doreen and others in Tunbridge Wells in episodes 457 and 458, and even more scenes of Bobby and Sheila in Rome throughout episodes 465 and 466.

Births:

There is a vast amount of birthday talk in this season. In episode 437 it is observed that in 2000 Damon will be 32, Barry will be over 40, Sheila will be 59, Bobby will be over 60, Karen will be 34 and Claire, whose 2nd birthday is tomorrow, will be 15; and Madge says her birthday is tomorrow. It is Claire’s birthday – if not Madge’s! – in episode 438, and it is revealed in episode 439 that she is now 2, and her date of birth is 6th January. In episode 439 Harry is already sure that Madge was born the same day that he started work – July 30th 1938. He makes Ralph remember more birthdays in episode 440 – Grace’s was 6th April, Ralph’s mum’s was 19th October, Ralph’s dad’s was 11th June, and Harry’s is 7th August, while Madge’s are still 6th January and 30th July. Harry finally proves that Madge’s true birthday is 30th July by studying her driving licence in episode 448. In episode 455, Harry observes that Edna would have been 66 next week, and Annabelle reminds Paul that he was in his early 20’s in 1946. We are also told that Rod is 18 (435), Tracy is 16 (454, 461), Doreen is nearly 40 (437), Debbie is 16 (465), and it is Bobby’s birthday in episode 461.

Marriages:

None. Doreen and Billy will have been married for 20 years “this summer” (444), and Bobby and Sheila have now been married for 28 years, according to Sheila (461), or 30 years, according to Bobby (461, 462, 465, 466).

Deaths:

Two – Paul’s dog Lucky is run over and killed by Gordon in episode 455, and, after Damon takes a telephone message that someone has died of asbestosis in episode 465, Bobby reveals in episode 466 that it is Don Atkinson. We are also told thet the following are dead: Julia’s husband, Albert (438 ); Martin’s uncle, a worker at Billinge’s, who died last week of cancer of the lining of the lung (439); and Ralph’s mother and father (440). Madge mentions that Tony Cagliorani (449, 452) died during the war on 30th July (449), and her husband Frank died nine years ago (451, 452). This may or may not be the same husband as the previously mentioned Desmond…….but Madge is a con-artist anyway!

Toilet visits:

Charlie (431); Terry (449); Billy (462); and, most memorably, Jamie – who finds that there is no toilet paper! (466)

Gone but not forgotten – seen previously and still mentioned occasionally, but not reappearing in this season:

Heather (431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 453, 454); Inspector Laraway (431); Lucy Collins (431, 432, 434, 436, 445, 459); James (431); PC Moonan (431); Montague (431); Nicholas (431, 432, 435, 453, 454); Jane (431, 432); Adam (432); Henty (433, 443, 460); Tyler (433, 437); James (435); Susi (435); Tommy McArdle (436); Teresa Nolan (439, 449, 463, 466); Edna (439, 440, 448, 449); Father Daley (439, 465); Stephen [Nolan] (439, 449); Grace (439, 440, 448 ); Kevin (440, 442, 448, 451); Sally (442, 448 ); Avril (443, 446, 458); Sandra (443, 445, 460); Kate (454, 457); and Ruth (454).

Not seen yet, but definitely worth waiting for:

Gordon’s granny, Annabelle’s mother (435, 459); and Laura’s mum and dad (463).

And those that are also mentioned, but are sadly destined to remain unseen forever (in order of non-appearance):

Mr Paul Kirby of Vale Road, Crosby (431); Miss Carolyn Milner of Littledale Avenue, Rainhill (431); Tina, Tracy’s friend who has a telly (432); Johnny Clegg, hamper scam man (433); relatives of Doreen – Sylvia, who “took in lodgers” (sometimes three a night), and Alfie, who has done time and isn’t her cousin (433); the Grants’ Aunty Irene (435); Mal Holden, Billy’s contact (437); Piggy Morris, Barry’s contact, a labourer (437); Mrs Battersby’s “Jack” (437); Father Gibbons’ elder brother (439); Jacky Marsh, Billy’s supervisor in Tunbridge Wells (440, 456); “Karen from Aintree” and “Dave”, on the Chatline (442); Mrs Bradshaw (442); Janice’s brother Richie (443); Rosie, barmaid (444); Mike’s mum, dad, aunty and her four kids, his fiancee Kath(y), and Eric, who she married (446); Maureen from Rochdale, Kenny who has a pub in Lancashire, honeymooners Stephanie and Brian, Vult of the tourist board, in Christopher’s holiday snaps (446); Charles and Roland, two of Madge’s five other fiances (451); Martin, Ellie’s son (451, 452); Simon, a mate of Fran’s who has been known to get drunk (451); Bill, a steward (452); Ellie’s mum (451) and dad (451), who has arthritis (452); Trisha’s brother (453); Vicky’s father (454); Jane, Mel’s friend (455); Mrs Kirkwood, Julia’s bingo pal (457); Linda’s brother and sister (457); Nan Corkhill, who lost her teeth when she was not much older than Tracy is now (459); Mr Howman’s teenaged children (459), including a daughter (463); Sandra Underwood, Tracy’s friend who is going to Torremolinos (463); Murphy, work colleague of Laura (463); Dave, Shelley’s man (464); and Mark’s redundant dad and grandad (464).

Goofs:

In episode 432, Barry’s third and fourth words are in the wrong order: “You’re better not off entertaining the likes of him.”

Harry refers to Julia as “Julie” at one point in episode 439, and says “girl’s friend” instead of “girlfriend” in episode 440.

During episode 441, Jack Latimer refers to “employers”, when he surely means “employees”.

Damon pronounces “specific” with a silent “s” in episode 442.

Terry says “clear them out at cards first”, when he means “clean….”, in episode 452.

Matty misses out the word “me”: “I’ll talk to him if you want to” in episode 463.

Trivia:

The Collins family pay “Scruples”, then “Scrabble” (435). Paul, who had a dog called “Red” when he was a lad (445), came third in his regimental cross-country championships in 1946, in which cramp prevented him from winning (455). Annabelle’s mother has sent Lucy a postal order for 25 pence at the address at which the Collins family used to live in Hoylake (459). At their previous home they used the decorating firm “Critchley’s” (445). Lucy is spending Christmas in Verona with her new unmarried young Italian boyfriend (431). The van driven by “Bob Glover” bears the name “W.J.Forshaw” (464).

Doreen and Billy look at houses advertised in the window of Wood & Pilcher, estate agents in Tunbridge Wells – one costs £69,000, another is in Goudhurst (458 ). Rod’s telephone number is 2599053 (458 ). His starting salary will be £7,752 pa (444). Tracy claims to be 23-year-old “Sue from Wallasey” on the Chatline (442). In episode 438 Julia, claiming to be “not religious”, buys for £29.99 a coat marked down from £49.99, and demonstrates for the very first time her unique approach to pronunciation, referring to “homopathetic” medicine! Her late husband, Albert, worked in the city for a shipping firm (438 ). Mr Howman is on the golf club committee (459).

To trap Madge, Harry pretends to be “Mr Hislop”, a retired civil servant – and Madge claims she thought he was “Mr Collier”, who worked with her late husband “Frank” (451). Ralph had a dog when he was a boy (448 ). He refers to “Household Physician Vol. 1 (McGregor Robertson)” to check out Harry’s symptoms (437). Mick and Mike are kiln-builders (443), and are moving on to Staffordshire on Tuesday (453). Mike’s full name is Michael James Stevens (457). His mum and dad split when he was 9 (446). He was engaged to Kath for 10 months and one week (446). Fran works in the print room (459). Trish’s brother’s car has failed its MOT (453).

Sheila’s rapist gets 12 years (439). After looking in the window of the temp agency “Wilmington – Better Staff, Better Jobs”, she spots an advert for staff at the “Swan” in the window of M. Kirkness’ newsagent at 4 Mill Lane (443). It pays £20 per week (444). Karen is in her second year of university (435). Claire’s books include “Dragon In The Wood” (463). Matty went to see the European Cup Final in 1977, in which Borussia Monchengladbach lost 3-1 (440).

Don Atkinson lives at number 3 (446). Eric Dempster has worked at Billinge Chemicals plc for 12 years (448 ), and has known Jack Latimer for 8 years (448 ). Eric is the union convenor there (439). “Militant” Martin, who was in the army for three years (446). got six votes when he stood against him for that role (440). Heather is now working in London (453). She spent four years building a home (454), whose burglar alarm code is 1658 (435). The sale of her property is supervised by Joseph Henry & Co, Solicitors, whose telephone number is 987 3456 (454). Laura shops at “Next” (463)

“Blink-and-you-miss-it” moments:

As Billy tries unsuccessfully to get the portable television he has got from Jimmy to work in episode 436, a little of the quiz show “Blockbusters” can (only just) be seen on the screen.

Among Heather’s property, up for sale in episode 454, is the book by Anthony Burgess which Nick had previously been seen reading!

The end-of-season cliffhanger:

In Rome, Bobby realises he still loves Sheila, and tells her – first in English, then, after consulting his phrase-book, in Italian too – “Ti Amo”. The camera pans up to a nearby ornamental statue as the couple embrace…